Turnover requirements: what has to be bet before money can leave

The rule, in the bookmakers' words

Sportsbet: "Sportsbet does not charge fees on deposits on the understanding that deposits will be turned over at least once, which means if you deposit $50 you'll need to bet $50 before you can withdraw the balance out of the account."1 PointsBet: "If you see a 'Turnover requirements' error message when attempting to withdraw, it means you haven't yet bet through (turned over) your entire deposit."2 Its other article adds the two words that matter: bet through "at least once (at any odds)".3

One times the deposit, at any price, and the requirement is met. It doesn't matter whether the bet wins. A $50 bet at $1.05 that loses has turned over $50 just as a $50 bet at $10.00 that wins has.

"The remaining $100 deposit would need to be turned over to be withdrawn."1 Sportsbet shows the figure as "Withdrawable Balance" at the top of My Account; PointsBet shows the error at withdrawal time.

Turnover and bonus bet calculator

The calculator uses the two rules exactly as published and nothing else. If a specific promo sets minimum odds or a larger multiple, its own terms override this.

Why turnover exists

Two reasons are given, and they're different. PointsBet: "This is a compliance requirement for all bookmakers under Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations."2 Depositing and withdrawing without betting would turn a bookmaker into a money-transfer service, and the rule stops that. Sportsbet frames it as fees: deposits are free "on the understanding that deposits will be turned over at least once".1 Either way, the requirement isn't a promo trick and it isn't optional; it sits on every deposit at every licensed bookmaker, whether or not a bonus was attached.

If you deposit and change your mind, both say the same thing: contact customer service. Sportsbet "may require further verification of your account and funds"; PointsBet asks you to get in touch "if you've deposited funds but no longer wish to place bets".2 You'll also need to have completed identity verification before any withdrawal at Sportsbet.1

What turnover doesn't hold

Winnings. Sportsbet's example splits the balance into deposit and winnings and only the deposit is held.1 Bonus bet profit in particular: PointsBet says "winnings from bonus bets are not subject to turnover requirements and can be withdrawn immediately".3 A $50 token that wins at $2.00 puts $50 straight into the withdrawable balance, while the $50 you deposited alongside it still has to be bet.

Turnover and promos: two clocks, not one

A deposit bonus starts two separate clocks. The token expires in seven days and pays profit only, as on the bonus bet page. The deposit has no expiry but has to be bet once before it can leave. They don't offset each other: betting the token doesn't turn over the deposit, because a bonus bet is placed from the separate bonus balance, not from cash. The only way to turn over $50 is to bet $50 of cash.

The deposit match page works both clocks through on a $50 deposit with a $50 token. The short version: if both bets win at $2.00 the withdrawable balance is $150; if the token wins and the deposit loses it's $50; if the deposit wins and the token loses it's $100.

Turnover weighed up

My verdict